Well rig



e. R. HUNT Oct. 24, 1950 WELL RIG 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 15, 1945 INVENTOR. 6 50x140 1Q H/Nr ATTORNEY G. R. HUNT Oct. 24, 1950 WELL RIG 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 15, 1945 INVENTOR. GER/4L0 Q HUNT ATTOP/VEY Patented Oct. 24, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WELL RIG I Gerald R. Hunt, Riverside, Calif. W Application August 13, 1945, Serial No. 610,485

Claims. (01. 255-49) This invention relates to well rigs and deals more particularly with a novel derrick and rig combination for handling well equipment.

The rotaryrigs and derricks now in general use are expensive, heavy and costly to set up. When the ordinary rig is used the length of sections or stands of pipe, tubing, casing, etc., that can be handled must be less than the height of the derrick since these sections are handled within the confines of the derrick, that is within the derrick between the crown block and the derrick floor. As an example, an ordinary derrick, at the present time, must approach 90 feet in height in order to handle 60 foot stands or sections. Because of its extreme height, a conventional derrick must be constructed not only strong enough to withstand working loads, but must also be strong and heavy enough to safely support its own weight. Further, rotary derricks of conventional design include expensive and complicated rigging and machinery such as draw works, a traveling block, and many hundreds of feet of attending cable which are used for running stands of pipe, tubing, casing, etc. in and out of a well.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive andrelatively light well rig which embodies a derrick the height of which is less than that of the lengthof the sections of pipe, etc. handled thereby and which is economical and easy to set up.

Another object of. my invention is to provide a well rig incorporating a derrick which is shorter than the sections or stands of pipe, etc. which it handles.

Another object of my invention is to provide a well rig which handles sections or stands of pipe outside of the framework of the derrick, enabling the derrick to be internally braced for increased strength. With my construction I am 'able to materially lighten the structural members of the derrick.

A further object of my invention is to provide a well rig in which the operating floor or platform is open and unencumbered so that tools used for making up a string of pipe, etc. can be freely manipulated without interference with the structural parts of the derrick of said rig.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a well rig useful for carrying out a novel system for elevating and lowering a section or stand of pipe, etc. into and out of a well.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a novel derrick in which the racking platform is disposed outside of the base of said derrick as frame structure proper.

Another object of my invention is to provide simple and novel means for operating a rotary drilling machine and for operating a, cathead shaft in a drilling rig as above referred to, to obviate the need for an expensive draw works.

The various objects and'feature's of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of my invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a rotary well rig partly broken away and embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of the rig showing it partly in cross section;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View as taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2 and showing the rear of the derrick of the rig to an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 4 is a plan sectional view as taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

The well rig which is illustrated embodies but one form of my invention. Certain attending apparatus and parts of conventional and wellknown form have been omitted. These include pumps for supplying drilling fluid and for other purposes, a swivel and associated connections, possibly including a kelly, for conducting drilling fluid to the drilling string, an engine or engines for driving the rotary machine and the cathead shaft and for supplying liquid under pressure to the sections or stands of pipe, etc.

The well rig which is illustrated may be said to comprise, generally, a derrick base If] supporting a conventional rotary machine II; a derrick l2 mounted on the base in and at the rear thereof so the rotary machine II and the working space adjacent thereto are fully ex posed or unobstructed; a racking platform l3 carried by the derrick I2 and having overstanding relation with exposed portions of the derrick base It; a base 14 extending rearwardly of the derrick base It; a hydraulic unit l5 mounted on the base [4; a hoisting system It including sheaves and cables and an elevator ll controlled by the hydraulic unit l5 for raising and lowering stands or sections of pipe,,etc. into and out of a well bore beneath the rotary machine II; and various other parts and means such as a cathead shaft l8, a drive l9 for said cathead shaft and the rotary machine, etc.

The derrick base it may be constructed in various ways. I have shown said base it as comprising aportable skid 20 mounted upon a plurality 20 and may be contiguous thereto.

of transverse beams or sleepers 2| so that the skid is of generally elongated rectangular form and supports the pipe stand 22 which extends laterally on either side of the skid, the extending portions of the stand being supported by extensions of the sleepers 2| or, as shown, by brackets or Outriggers 23.

The rotary machine I I which may be any typical rotary unit is supported by the base so it is over the well bore. The rotary table 24 of the machine ll may be driven by a sprocket pinion 25, or the like.

The derrick I2 is of novel form and design and is located upon or at the rear of the skid 20, leaving the platform l3 and the rotary table 24 exposed. The derrick I2 is relatively short as compared to prior or usual derricks and is shown as being shorter than the sections or stands of pipes 2 6 which it handles.

The specific structural design of the derrick may vary widely. I have illustrated the derrick as comprising front vertical and parallel legs 2'! each positioned at the opposite sides of the skid 20, rear legs 28 which are parallel and which extend upwardly and forward, suitable derrick girts 29 on all four sides of the derrick structure and suitable derrick braces 30 in the bays defined by the legs and girts 25. Since I do not use the interior of the derrick, as is the ordinary derrick, for housing or accommodating various units of equipment, the derrick may be internally braced as at 3!. When the derrick is internally braced the other structural members, namely, the legs 21 and 28, the girts 29, and braces 39, can be lightened and yet a strong derrick for the purpose intended is provided. It will be apparent that the derrick can be made either unitary or sectional as desired; that the face of the derrick can be covered or closed in if desired; and that the derrick legs 21 and 28 can be variously arranged either vertical or angled in both directions.

The racking platform I3 is provided for the purpose of supporting the upper end portions of the stands of pipe, or the like, used in the rig. In its preferred form the racking platform l3 comprises a cantilever frame carried by the upper part of the derrick i2 and extending in overstanding relation to the stand 22.

The racking platform may in practice be constructed in different ways. In the drawings I have shown it as comprising vertically spaced side frames 32 having angled braces 33 tying said frames 32 to the derrick, a front frame 34, and a derrickmans platform or platforms 35 carried by the lowermost side frames 32 and located as shown in Fig. l, for use by the derrickman when handling the stands of pipe in the rack. It will be seen that the racking platform [3 can be constructed of light structural members, suitably braced since it serves only to support the stands of pipe in a vertical or near vertical position.

The base I4 is located at the rear of the skid Said base M, as illustrated, comprises an elongated skid 36 which forms a rear extension of the skid 20, and is supported on suitable transverse timbers or sleepers 3'5. The skid 36 is suitably provided with a seat 38, orthe like, for the hydraulic unit 15 which it holds against endwise movement and supports horizontally at its rear end.

The unit l comprises an elongated cylinder 39 having a cap 40 at its forward end provided with a stuffing box 4| for sealing around the piston rod 42 of a piston 43 operating in the cylinder. Fluid connections 44 and 45 are provided at each end of the cylinder 39. From the foregoing it can be seen that the piston rod 42 is caused to move horizontally, either toward or from the derrick [2 by admitting fluid under pressure into the cylinder 39 through the respective connections 44 and 45. The extending end of the piston rod 42 is provided with an equalizing bar 46 which is pivoted at 46 to said piston rod and which is arranged transversely thereto.

The hoisting system of sheaves and cables I6 is provided to move the elevator I! up and down over or above the rotary table 24 under control and through the power of the hydraulic unit I5. The system It includes a pair of top sheaves 4! mounted at the top of the derrick l2 on a shaft 48 bearing in pillow blocks 49. The sheaves 41 are preferably spaced from each other and are located adjacent the sides of the derrick. The front edges of the sheaves 41 are arranged to lie in a, plane coinciding with the center of the rotary table 24.

The system l6 also includes a pair of bottom sheaves 50 on a shaft 5| extending transversely across the bottom of the derrick l2 and mounted in side brackets 52 secured to the sides of the derrick. The front edges of the sheaves 50 align vertically with the rear edges of the sheaves 41 and the bottom edges of the sheaves 50 are aligned with and are arranged transverse to the horizontal center line of the hydraulic unit [5.

The system l6 further includes two lengths 53 of cable which extend from opposite ends of the equalizer bar 46, under the bottom sheaves 50, upwardly to and over the top sheaves 41, and down in front of the derrick [2. The ends of the cables 53 are provided with suitable eye fittings 54 adapting them to mount and suspend the conventional elevator ll between them so that said elevator is in vertical alignment with the center of the rotary machine ll. t is evident that a to and fro movement of the piston rod 42 will result in an up and down movement of the elevator ll with respect to the rotary machine I i.

I have shown the rig as provided with the cathead shaft l8 arranged transversely at the rear of the derrick l2 and mounted on the derrick legs 28 by bearings 55. Said shaft [8 is provided with a cathead 56 at each end outside and adjacent to the derrick sides. I also provide a drive shaft [9 supported in the side brackets 52 and I provide suitable driving connections 51 and 58 from shaft 19 to the rotary sprocket 25 and to the cathead shaft l8, respectively.

The above-described well rig operates in a simple manner. For purpose of example it may be considered that the pipe being handled is in stands each including two sections joined or coupled together. When pulling pipe, or the like, out of the well the first or uppermost stand is engaged by the elevator beneath the coupling part at the upper end of the first stand. The stand is pulled up by operating unit l5 until the collar at the middle of the stand passes up through the rotary table 24. Slips are set around the upper end portion of the lower section of the stand to support the string of pipe. The hydraulic unit I5 is then operated by admitting fluid through the connection 44 to lower the elevator I! so it can be latched beneath the coupling part at the middle of the said first stand. The hydraulic unit is now operated by admitting fluid through the connection 45 to raise the elevator I1 and consequently to pull the pipe string upward in the well. The upper end of the first stand passes between the top sheaves 41 and up above the top of the derrick until the joint or coupling at the lower end of the first stand passes through the rotary table 24. Slips are then set around the upper end portion of the next or second stand to support the pipe string so the joint connecting the first and second stands can be broken in a conventional manner with suitable tongs operated from a cathead.

The first stand is now disconnected from the string and is held by the elevator engaged around the middle coupling so it can be swung over into the rack I3 to the stored position shown at the right in Fig. 2. When the first stand is in the rack the elevator can be released and then lowered to engage around the upper end of the second stand to start the cycle over again handling the second stand instead of the first.

It will be noted that the rig that I have provided affords ample room for the travel of the tongs since the area around the rotary machine is unencumbered and open. With a man on the platform or stand 22 and one on the racking platform l3, the stand of pipe 26 which is in substantially balanced suspension on the elevator I! can be easily and quickly racked as above described and as will be apparent from Figs. 1 and 2.

If a drilling operation is in progress the stands may be broken or separated into sections and then reassembled in order to accommodate a kelly which would be of a length corresponding to one section, it being understood that the kelly would be equipped with a swivel to handle circulation.

I have disclosed an embodiment of my invention in which the hoist, which comprises the hydraulic unit l5 and the hoisting system [6, is arranged in a generally L-shaped form with the former horizontally disposed and at the ground. As an alternate arrangement I may provide a rat hole at the rear of the derrick and place the hydraulic unit I5 therein. In that case, I would locate the bottom sheaves at the top of the derrick to the rear of the top sheaves 41 and train the cables 51 upwardly from the equalizer bar around both sets of sheaves and down in front of the derrick, as before described.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A well rig including a base. a rotary machine mounted on said base at the approximate middle thereof, a derrick projecting above the base and having its lower end rearward of the rotary machine, a pipe rack projecting horizontally from the upper portion of the derrick and overlying the rotary machine and the forward portion of the base, and a hoist mechanism including, a line, an elevator supported by the line Vertically over the rotary machine for handling pipe passing through said rotary machine, a hydraulic cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a piston rod connected with the piston, an equalizer bar pivoted on the piston rod, and sheaves carried by the derrick, the line being, connected to each end of the equalizer bar and being trained around said sheaves.

2. In a well rig, a base, a rotary machine carried on the base, a derrick projecting upwardly from the base to the rear of said rotary machine,

horizontally spaced sheaves carried by the top of the derrick projecting from the front side of the derrick and having their front edges in line with a vertical plane intersecting the vertical center of said rotary machine, a pipe rack carried by the front of the derrick below the sheaves and overlying the rotary machine, an elevator, line operating means, and lines having vertically operating ends depending from the sheaves and connected to the elevator over the rotary machine and having ends connected to the operating means.

3. A well rig including, a base, a rotary machine on the base, a derrick on said base to the rear of said rotary machine, a second base to the rear of the derrick, a horizontally disposed hydraulic cylinder unit on said second base, pairs of sheaves carried by the derrick near its base and at its top, cables connected with said unit and trained around said sheaves, an elevator carried by said cables and movable between the top sheaves and said rotary machine.

4. A well rig including, a base, a rotary machine carried by the base, a derrick on said base to the rear of said rotary machine, a second base to the rear of the derrick, a horizontally disposed hydraulic cylinder unit on said'second base, pairs of sheaves carried by the derrick near its base and at its top, cables connected with said unit and trained around said sheaves, an elevator carried by said cables and movable vertically between the top sheaves and said rotary machine in line with the rotary machine, said elevator being adapted to support a stand of pipe for movement through the rotary machine and disposed in a line between the top pair of sheaves.

5. A well rig including, a base, a rotary machine carried by the :base, a derrick on said base to the rear of said rotary machine, a second base to the rear of the derrick, a horizontally disposed hydraulic cylinder unit on said second base, pairs of sheaves carried by the derrick near its base and at its top, cables connected with said unit and trained around said sheaves, an elevator carried by said cables and movable between the top sheaves and said rotary machine in line with the rotary machine, said elevator being adapted to support a stand of pipe for movement through the rotary machine, and a rack for said stand of pipe carried by the derrick at the exterior thereof and between the pair of top sheaves and the first mentioned base.

GERALD R. HUNT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 652,293 Schneider, Jr June 26, 1900 1,634,087 Sheldon June 28, 1927 1,658,262 Sperry et al Feb. 7, 1928 2,113,270 Hall et al. Apr. 5, 1938 2,168,837 York Aug. 8, 1939 2,179,316 Anderson Nov. 7, 1939 2,215,928 Hornbrook Sept. 24, 1940 

